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Post by Administrator on Oct 30, 2005 14:47:39 GMT -5
Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea By Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly) www.drawnandquarterly.comWhen animator Guy Delisle was sent to North Korea to work on a cartoon, he kept a comic book diary of his time there, providing a rare glimpse into what life is like in North Korea. What's striking is how little of the real North Korea it seems Delisle was allowed to actually observe. He was led around by a guide and translator at all times, rarely interacting with any other North Koreans. He stayed in mostly empty hotels and interacted mostly with other foreign workers. It's like even when the veil of mystery around the country is lifted to allow Delisle in, the veil is still actually there to keep Delisle from seeing anything other than the work he's there to do. Delisle is a skilled observer and cartoonist, able to convey the reality of what he was able to see with a sense of wit and cynicism. He brings with him a copy of George Orwell's 1984 and lends it out to his guide, curious to see if the guide would comment on the parallels between the book and the Big Brothered North Korea, but the guide just later nervously hands it back to him, saying he doesn't like science fiction. As is the case with the guide's reaction, Delisle is able to observe a lot about North Korea based not just on what he sees or hears, but what he doesn't as well.
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